Madagascar

I spent five months working on a reforestation project at a field station near Kianjavato Madagascar. It’s where I met my wonderful girl friend and a lot of good people. Madagascar is an amazing place with enormous levels of biodiversity and endemism.

Madagascar is also threatened by incredibly high levels of deforestation with some estimates going as high as to say 90% of Madagascar’s forests have been destroyed. I was happy to contribute to reforestation efforts but as my article for mongabay.com reveals, I had some issues with methods used. Mainly non-native trees being planted with little long-term research to show the effects this will have on the environment over time. This seems especially worrisome in a place with such levels of endemism.

If anyone has a chance to visit Madagascar or better yet, work to protect it, I strongly recommend it. For all its flaws Madagascar is still an incredibly beautiful country with a unique and interesting culture that is a mix of African and Asian influences.